Comments on: Seven Reasons To Replace The Hoan Bridge

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 02:41:34 +0000

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By: the uk blog

the uk blog — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:18:56 +0000

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By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:39:50 +0000

Fixing the bridge would cost about $240million, which would put off total reconstruction around 2030-2040, when the support pillars need to be replaced, that project will cost around $500million plus inflation. Building an at-grade roadway with bridge will cost $240million, which will last longer than a bridge. If the lift-bridge and roadway are positioned correctly, the approach to the bridge will be high enough to allow businesses to continue work below the bridge.

I really like Klein’s idea. It solves all of the problems. Traffic flow will not be interrupted, work can continue in the Port, and it will save tons of money on maintenance costs.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:53:29 +0000

So nothing is happening with the engineering study, will we wait for it to fail, then sell the land to developers? Doyle and Busalacchi will not even answer e mails asking about this.
We need to resurface the bridge now, and make sure it stays for many years to come.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:29:49 +0000

The city of Racine doesnt even have one four lane road north to Milwaukee, extending the Lake Parkway south into Racine county is desperately needed. As it is now, I-94 is 15 minutes away from Racine. No wonder not many people come here to visit. When will our leaders wake up?

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:51:28 +0000

Dave here’s the kicker then,
How long are you willing to wait for these new developments to make sense?
5 years? 10?
We need to make a decision now.
We have a bridge deck that needs to be replaced in 2 years or less.
We have a super structure that should be good for 50+ years.
If we skip the redecking, tear the whole thing down, build new ramps, approches,
lift bridge, that will cost millions more then redecking. And take 2-3 times longer.
And disrupt traffic for 1-2 years. How much is it going to cost the port and our econommy
as a whole if we have to send the truck traffic that the port needs onto side streets.
What if it takes 10+ years for the realestate market and our economy in gerneral to
get to a point where more condos are needed in this new section of the third ward?

Current third ward buisnesses are not going to happy about losing a lot of buisness
during constructiuon. And who knows if much of the south side will ever come back.

I live on the south shore and thanks to the Hoan, I have an easy time getting to places
like Fanatics and The Milwaukee Ale house. Get rid of the Hoan and I’m staying near home
(the new St. Francis Brewery is great).

In this economy the only thing that makes sense is redecking. Once that happens,
then we have 40-50 years to discuss how to make that land in the third ward open for
development.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:45:46 +0000

@Rick I guess we’re just going to disagree on this one. The visual appeal of the Hoan bridge itself, might be wonderful but the connecting bridges it requires are blighting. And to me this blighting is far more negative than the Hoan is positive.

By: Rick Thrun

Rick Thrun — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:42:56 +0000

@Dave-I’m all for economic stability and growth, city revitalization and cultural opportunities. I think we agree on this. Drawing more people (to live) into the Third Ward is a good thing. However, the value and draw of a community isn’t and shouldn’t be premised on how many new condos you build-at the expense (teardown) of it’s existing iconic features. That’s the fundamental difference between urban and suburban mindset . Build lots of lots out in the suburbs and in the end what do you have? Lots of insulated people and artificial business development to sustain them. People haven’t been selling their homes in the “burbs and relocating downtown because they yearn for more Applebys, mega-cineplexes and oddlot shoe stores. They want to get back in touch with the “real-ness” of their city. The Hoan bridge is part of that landscape.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:15:39 +0000

@Rick “More condos will not now, or in the foreseeable future be a magic pill.” Certainly, though I’d point out the top 10 condo projects in the 4th district pay more in taxes than two of the Aldermanic districts. That does matter. That said it isn’t simply about more tax base but really building out the Third Ward. The Third Ward needs more population, to support the area business, and again this helps in that regard… Surely the Hoan has some benefits, but to me, the value, and how the city could be knit back together is much more important and valuable.

By: John

John — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:14:52 +0000

I don’t know if this has been touched upon but what if instead of building smaller bridges to replace the Hoan, they just dug tunnels. Kinda how Mass did it with their big dig (minus all the headache). I think having lake drive extended would be a boon for Milwaukee. Instead of having bridges mess with the flow of water traffic they could build some tunnels under the waterways. This should make the flow of vehicular traffic constant (and make the southern suburbs) and extend lake drive. Again, i don’t know if this can be achieved.

By: Rick Thrun

Rick Thrun — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:55:14 +0000

Dave-I don’t disagree. I am not against opening up and utilizing excessive ramp structures, although I do think people who have expressed the benefit to go west with minimum street hassle have a valid point. That will be their agenda. I am most concerned with giving our city’s aesthetics a voice that isn’t valued only by what tax can come from it. More condos will not now, or in the foreseeable future be a magic pill. There is glut now and many developments stand half built or hardly occupied. Supply and demand 101. A vital city needs a heart and soul-and an identity. IMHO, Milwaukee suffers from an identity crisis not best served by the tax, slash and burn mentality of our politicians. I wouldn’t want most of these politicos and their minions planning my kid’s birthday party much less the city’s future vision.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:18:07 +0000

@Rick It is my understanding that that a lower bridge could be at 60 feet to handle most Milwaukee leisure boaters. As far as future condo development that could come about by removing the flyover ramps, none of that would happen next year. It’s not like this could happen overnight, simply the time of getting through the politics and then the actual demo work would be years, then no development happens overnight, but overtime removing the flyover ramps would open up some of the best land in Wisconsin.

I’d add though certainly, minimizing the number of times it might up would be a priority.